SOUTH AFRICA: Zuma criticised on AIDS virginity testing

JOHANNESBURG, 27 Sep 2004 (PLUSNEWS) - South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has slammed Deputy president Jacob Zuma's recent call for virginity testing as an HIV/AIDS prevention method.

Zuma recently encouraged young girls to take part in the practice, saying it could curb the spread of the HI virus and reduce teenage pregnancies.

However, Janet Semple, a DA member of parliament, said this was "an insult to women" as Zuma's statement implied that only women were responsible for the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The South African Press Association quoted Semple as saying: "He should rather concentrate on the fact that one in four men admits he has raped a woman. Studies show that the fast spread of HIV in South Africa is the result of patriarchal structures in parts of the country, and the attitude of many men that women are their property."

[ENDS]